Clutch mechanism.



j. W. BARNES. CLUTCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25.1914.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

mw w w JOHN WILLIAM BARNES, OF ROCK FERRY, ENGLAND.

CLUTCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filedFebruary 25, 1914. Serial No. 820,910.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAM BARNES, asubject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Rock Ferry,Cheshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClutch Mechanisms Applicable for Variable-Speed Gearing, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clutches whereby acontinuously rotating shaft or element may be clutched alternatively toone or other of two or more rotary elements.

According to this invention the continuously rotating or driving elementis provided with two or more sets of key-ways or transverse recessesforming tangential flats in the cylindrical surface thereof. These flatsare arranged in pairs, the two flats of each pair being diametrallydisposed. Radially movable keys or pads of segmental section engagingperforations in the driven elements are adapted to be moved into engagement with the continuously rotating ele ment, or allowed to becomefreed therefrom, by the operation of an axially movable sleeve orsleeves.

The invention is illustrated in the accomj panying drawings, which showits application to a change speed gearing, Figure 1. being a verticalsection through a portion of a variable speed gearing box suitable for,say, a motor car drive. Fig. 2 illustrates a detail cross sectional viewthrough the operating sleeve and clutch, the keys being shown engaged,and Fig. 3 a similar view but show ing the pads in their disengagedposition.

In applying the invention to a clutch 49 mechanism for a change speedgear as shown in the drawings, the continuously rotating element ordriving shaft 1 is provided with a series of pairs of transverse flats 2cut in the shaft. Mounted upon tubular bosses l 3 on the shaft 1 are therespective driving pinions b, c for the different speeds to be obtained.

The opposing ends of the tubular bosses 3 are fitted with ball races 5or the like, so as to take up any end thrust.

Perforations 6, corresponding axially in position with the flats 2 inthe driving shaft, are formed in the tubular bosses of the drivingpinions Z), and c, and in these perforations are fitted radially movablesegmental pads 7 flat on their inner sides which engage the transversekeyways 2, and circular on their outer faces.

Sleeve 8, is provided with two interior annular recesses 9 and eachannulus having an oblique end' cam face 10 fitted over thetubular'bosses 3 so as to be capable of sliding axially thereon. Betweenthe inner cam faces 10 of the sleeves 8, the bores of the sleeves arereduced to fit the outer diameter of the bosses 3. The section in Fig.2. is taken through such reduced bore, Fig. 3. being a section throughthe annulus. By sliding the sleeve 8 axially to one side or the otherthe reduced bore may be brought over one or other pair of the segmentalpads 7 controlling the bosses 3 of the driving pinions or c, the end camfaces forcing the pads 7 7 into engagement with the flats 2. If, forinstance, the sleev 8 he slid to the left the driving pinion b will bekeyed to the driving. shaft 1. At the same time the pads 7 controllingthe driving pinion 0 will be permitted to disengage themselves from thetransverse flats 2 by reason of the annular clearance 9 coinciding withthose pads. The pads disengage themselves by an outward radial movementdue to centrifugal action. Similarly by moving the sleeve 8 to theright, the driving pinion 0 will be connected to the driving shaft andthe pinion released.

The axial distance apart of the pads 7 and the length of the reducedbore of the sleeves is so arranged that the sleeve may be moved to acentral neutral position, in which both sets of pads controlled by thesleeve will be free. With such an arrangement, either of the pinions b,or 0, may be clutched in gear.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided for axially moving the sleeves.In the arrangement shown, the sleeve 8 is operated by means of a shaft11, slidably mounted in bearings 12, in the casing 18, and adapted to becontrolled from any suitable position, the shaft being provided with aforked branch 14 engaging an annular recess 15 in the sleeve 8.

' As shown in Figs. 2. andv 3., the outer circular faces of the pads arepreferably made of greater curvature or shorter radius than the interiorwall of the reduced bore of the sleeve, such a formation enabling thepads when engaged to tend to wedge themselves into the angular spaceleft between the inner curvature of the sleeve bore, and the transverseflats cut in the shaft and the perforations in the tubular boss, therebyenabling the flat sides of the pads to more accurately bed against thefiat transverse recessescut in the driving shaft.

Although the driving element has been described as a shaft, and thetubular bosses as the driven element, it will be obvious that thisarrangement may be reversed. With such a type of clutch the teeth of thegear section adapted to be moved into engagement with the recesses inthe driving shaft or to be freed therefrom by the axial movement ofasleeve.

2. A clutch mechanism for variable speed gearing, comprising, a drivingshaft provided with sets of transversely fiatted recesses, drivenelements on the shaft, perforations in the driven elements correspondingwith the recesses in the shaft, and radially movable keys or pads ofsegmental section adapted to be moved into engagement with the recessesin the driving shaft or to be freed therefrom, and an axially Lnovablesleeve controlling each pair of said eys.

3. A clutch mechanism for variable speed gearing, comprising, a drivingshaft provided with sets of transversely fiatted recesses, drivenelements on the shaft, perforations in the driven elements correspondingwith the recesses in the shaft, and radially movable keys or pads ofsegmental section adapted to be moved into engagement with the recessesin the driving shaft or to be freed therefrom by the axial movement of asleeve, the curved surface of the pads being of shorter radius than thebore of the sleeve by which the pads are engaged.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAM BARNES.

Witnesses:

A. J. DAVIES, R. S. J ONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0,

